“Hurry up, we're running late”, my mother called
Once again, I took too long selecting my outfit
Frustration flooded through my body
I had promised not to delay our morning commute
Today was extra rushed because of the traffic report:
water-main break congesting our normal route
Thankfully, she was always gracious and provided second chances
That was decades ago. I have since learned my lesson.
Once I identify something that needs no deliberation, I do it earlier than needed
For instance, the night before:
• Lay out the next day's clothes
• Prepare meals for the week ahead
• Pack the suitcase the day before the flight
Between now and the deadline,
you never know what will happen that is out of your control
As much as possible,
do the already-known and routine things
It's the opposite of the procrastinator's creed:🚫 Why do something now if you can do it later?
✅ Do something now because you don't know if you can do it later
You know the feeling when you are pressed for time
• Tensions rise
• Anxiety increases
• Mistakes multiply, worsening the situation
If you have time to do it now, why not?
The upside is great: open up opportunities for later
If the unexpected occurs, you've created your own padding
Determine a list of things
• Routine chores
• Daily preparation
• Quick time-sensitive tasks
Prepare them for when you have pockets of freetime
And just do it
You're doing yourself a huge favor
Future-self will thank you
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